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Loup Generator — Fall 2020

The Ruthie cabin cruiser makes a big splash in 1939, the Lake Babcock Amusement Resort works to develop the lake into a "boating mecca", protecting the piping plover and interior least tern at the Genoa Headworks.

The Ruthie cabin cruiser makes a big splash in 1939, the Lake Babcock Amusement Resort works to develop the lake into a "boating mecca", protecting the piping plover and interior least tern at the Genoa Headworks.

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Pair of nesting least terns.<br />

Photo by Michael Gutzmer.<br />

Gutzmer has worked with <strong>Loup</strong> since 2010, and is in<br />

the process of completing those studies. Gutzmer and<br />

his team will continue monitoring through 2023 when<br />

they will complete a final report.<br />

Their business serves as the environmental compliance<br />

arm for <strong>Loup</strong> <strong>—</strong> surveying bird populations and<br />

their habitats, and completing reports on fish, water<br />

pollution, invasive species, wetlands, and other<br />

environmental issues.<br />

In his work with <strong>Loup</strong>, Gutzmer has also conducted<br />

training and general awareness for <strong>Loup</strong> employees,<br />

showing them how to monitor the area for birds and<br />

nests. He also educates District employees about other<br />

applicable environmental regulations.<br />

NEW HABITAT AT HEADWORKS<br />

Although the <strong>Loup</strong> project changed the flow of the river<br />

in the 1930s, the dredging operation has created new<br />

habitat over all these years.<br />

“<strong>Loup</strong> has helped the species tremendously because we<br />

are creating habitat on the sand management areas,”<br />

said Chris Shank, <strong>Loup</strong>’s Civil Engineering Compliance<br />

Technician.<br />

Gutzmer echoed that observation.<br />

“The extraction and dredging of sand from the supply<br />

canal has created significant substrate for nesting<br />

opportunities at the Genoa Headworks,” he said. “<strong>Loup</strong><br />

can take credit in and around the entire canal system<br />

for creating many aquatic resource opportunities that<br />

might not otherwise exist.”<br />

Gutzmer said diversion also lowers flows in the bypass<br />

reach, creating more sand bars for bird nesting. NCE<br />

has formally documented this in FERC article studies.<br />

<strong>—</strong> continued on page 14<br />

Above left: a least tern with a fish in its beak. Photo by Kate Asmus.<br />

Above right: New Century Environmental employees Shailyn Miller and<br />

Jordan Kort and contract biologist Tony Bryne survey piping plover and<br />

least tern at the Genoa Headworks in May with the help of driver Bob<br />

Souillere. Photo by Michael Gutzmer.<br />

The Pawnee II dredges sand and sediment from the settling basin at the<br />

Genoa Headworks. It is pumped into sand management areas (shown<br />

below), creating new habitat for the piping plover and least tern. The<br />

district ceases dredging during the birds’ nesting season from June<br />

through August to protect the nests.<br />

FALL <strong>2020</strong> 13

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